Blogged about last year vacation to this amazing place with family, it is Melbourne! Why Melbourne, and not Perth or Sydney? I can say that every part in Australia is amazing, but our preference are more to Melbourne, which is not as hectic as the hustle bustle of city life in Sydney and not as lay back as Perth. And what's more, Melbourne is listed as one of the best places to have your retirement. So let's visit this city as it is becoming more and more popular these years. However, in future let's hope that there is chance to visit other part of Australia too, as it is a beautiful country for sure.
We paid a visit on November 2016, as it is the end spring season. The temperature was around 13 Celsius to 18 Celsius when we visited. The weather in Melbourne is truly windy, windy, and windy (p/s: Just have a look on the above photo, my hairs and scarft is flying up high..) as it is located at the southern part of Australia. To visit Melbourne, we have to transit at Kuala Lumpur and fly to Melbourne, and the flight journey took us around 8 hours. It was a 8D7N trip with my family, and we only used RM3600 per pax for the whole trip! Let's have a look on the itinerary.
Day 1:
Flight:
💜 Flight on board (Penang-Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne)
Transportation:
💜 Skybus from Melbourne airport to our apartment
Accomodation:
💜 Milano Serviced Apartment (https://www.expedia.com.au/Melbourne-Hotels-Milano-Serviced-Apartments.h6616616.Hotel-Information)
Note: We stayed this apartment for 7 nights throughout our trip. Our room is Executive two bedroom apartment (4 adults), total price is RM3500 for 7 nights.
Day 2:
Activities:
💜 Melbourne city sightseeing
💜 Flinders Street Station
💜 Melbourne Visitor Center
💜 ACMI Center
💜 St. Paul Cathedral
💜 Federation Square
💜 Crown Casino
💜 Yarra River with Fire Show
Transportation:
💜 Free City Tram
Day 3:
Activities:
💜 State Library of Victoria
💜 Fitzroy Garden & Cook's Cottage
💜 Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes
💜 Penguin Viewing at St. Kilda Breakwater
💜 Chinatown
Transportation:
💜 City Tram & Train & Walk by own feet...
Day 4:
Activities:
💜 Puffing Billy Steam Train
💜 Churchill Island Heritage Farm
💜 Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Transportation:
💜 Self Rental Car
Note: Using Budget Car Rental company, which located just beside Milano Serviced Apartment.
Total price for 2 days rental is AUD104.
Day 5:
Activities:
💜 Great Ocean Road
Transportation:
💜 Self Rental Car
Day 6:
Activities:
💜 Ballarat Wildlife Park
Transportation:
💜 Vline Train & Ballarat Bus
Day 7:
Activities:
💜 Queen Victoria Market
💜 The Royal Arcade Shopping Mall
Transportation:
💜 Walk
Day 8:
Flight:
💜 Flight on board (Melbourne-KL-PG)
So let's see what we have checked here! 😍
✔ beautiful cathedral in the middle of city
✔ grand casino inside a 5-star hotel
✔ star shape observatory of library, which is also the filming place of Runningman (korean race show) when they paid a visit to Australia
✔ indulge in lush greenaries of a very big garden
✔ photo with the famous colorful beach boxes
✔ oldest steam train to jungle
✔ smallest species of penguin
✔ prettiest coastal road to amazing rocks view
✔ photo with koala bears and kangaroos
✔ market experience in Australia
Let's have a look for amazing photos here 👀💗
Day 1:
We were on the AirAsia flight from Penang to Melbourne. It was a long day journey, which was about 8 hours. When we flied around 5 hours plus, we saw this little piece of earth or dessert view? Wonder what was the place and where am I? But it felt somehow awesome when saw the view 😄
We reached Melbourne airport after long flight journey. Can't wait for the amazing sights Melbourne can offer for us! There are LCD display inside airport which showing the famous tourist landmarks in Melbourne, feel free to take photos.
We were sitting SkyBus from Melbourne airport to our Milano Serviced Apartment, which located at the Downtown Melbourne.
We reached Milano Serviced Apartment, our little home oasis for one week. The executive two bedroom apartment is very comfortable, clean and well maintained. Not to mention the location of this apartment is truly strategic, as it has a minimart called Aldi Food Store just beside the door. And beside the minimart, there have two car rental companies. Opposite the apartment there is another one car rental company too. Thus, is very easy for us to pick up and drop off the rental car no matter how early or late we are, as it is just located beside our apartment. When you cross to the opposite road, you will find yourself Chinatown and State Library of Victoria,RM1T university etcetera. The tram station also located in the vicinity. And you do not need to worry on your safety, as the apartment comes with security password locked door too. We have our own kitchen and dining tables, couch in living room, big TV to watch for news or listen to songs (Yes, they have musics saved inside for you to listen!), one master room, one common room, sharing clean toilet with private shower. For the price, it is definitely worth to stay for your holidays! I truly recommend it.
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| Big bedroom |
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| Big living room with kitchen provided |
Day 2:
Woke up in the morning in Melbourne city! After a fulfilling breakfast, we headed to stroll around Melbourne center. Is my first time to visit foreign country which has a lot of different building styles compared to Asian countries. It is very beautiful mix of modern and australian style buildings in this city 😊
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💜 Melbourne Visitor Center
💜 Melbourne city sightseeing
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| Our apartment |
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| Beautiful building just nearby the road of our apartment |
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| RM1T University with city tram coming! |
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| Our lunch with very big portion of fishes and chickens. Total of 10 pieces of fishes and 10 pieces of chickens for each bowl. And.. there is still big bowl of rice hiding below the fishes and chickens.. Too full.. |
💜 Melbourne Visitor Center
Is situated at Federation Square. We made it on 1st day as we can get to see an overview of Melbourne. There are plenty of brouchers available and even big wallpaper to introduce Melbourne city center. Tourists can come here to ask for tours inquiries,get free brochures, shop for cute souvenirs and hide yourself from the cold or heat outside! Some brochures do come together small coupons and you may use it for a discounted visit to certain places in Melbourne too!
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| Melbourne Visitor Center |
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| Christmas Koala Bear! So cute 😍 |
💜 ACMI Center
For those that are interested in art exhibitions for film, movie and digital may consider to visit Melbourne's ACMI Center. What's ACMI? It actually stands for Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Drop by here as it is just situated beside Melbourne's visitor center.
💜 St Paul Cathedral
For those that are interested in pretty and elegant cathedral building structures, may pay a visit to St Paul Cathedral. It is easily accessible as the cathedral is just located across the road of Melbourne Visitor Center. The majestic view of cathedral can be seen once you alight from tram. Do pay a visit to the inside of the cathedral to feel the peaceful atmosphere and adore the interior architecture.
💜 Yarra River
Go there before sunset for day time view of Yarra River and after visit to Crown Casino,walk along Yarra River again to enjoy the night view which comes together with a short fire show display every night. Yarra River is just situated in the heart of Melbourne city and is certainly a great spot to enjoy the leisure stroll along the river together with your loves one. Occasionally there will be wind blowing through and you just feel like you are in overseas! Indeed, you are 😄
Note: Refer link here to know more details and timing regarding fire show display along
Yarra River (https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/general/gas-brigades)
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| Ride bicycles along Yarra River |
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| Beautifully decorated horse for prince and princess |
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| Cruise along Yarra River |
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| Fire show at night |
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| Fire show at night along South Bank
💜 Crown Casino
Experience a whole new world of casino inside 5-star hotel, Crown Melbourne Resort. The grand casino is opened to public, however no photography is allowed inside. There is a tall Christmas tree welcomes us at the hotel lobby, as it is nearby Christmas! The decoration inside the hotel lobby is futuristic and worth to take a look.
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| Selfie with Christmas tree, hohoho~ |
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| Exterior view of Crown Casino |
Day 3:
💜 State Library of Victoria
Started our Day 3 journey by visiting State Library of Victoria. The place is nearby our hotel,
with just 5 minutes walking distance or less than that if you opt to sit tram. It is broadcasted in Running Man korea show as well during their adventure to Australia! The library is famous for it's Star-shaped seating inside library. We can sit lift directly to observatory to get this view. There are a total of 6 levels which is very huge and is opened for public to visit part of the library. Remember to lower down our voice inside the library 😶
💜 Fitzroy Garden
One of Melbourne most historic gardens. Come to the huge garden here and enjoy the breeze, sitting over the bench or on the big field which is all yours! Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and sit the tram to come to this little piece of heaven. The garden is very big and have few photo spots for you to visit. Following the trail, you will need around 1.5 hours to 2 hours to enjoy the whole garden. There is a little cottage at the entrance, named Cook's Cottage. You will need to pay additional entrance fees in order to enter the cottage. It is a small cottage which displays the bedroom and living room of Captain Cook. Personally I like the small garden outside the cottage as there are many types of beautiful flowers for you to take photos with. Don't be shy and take photos with the old couples standing outside Cook's cottage! Because is just feel like foreign country again, somehow feeling like inside a Hollywood movie! 😜
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| The friendly old couple who dressed traditionally |
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| I am wearing Captain Cook's hat! Well, is for men.. |
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| Okay, here comes the real hat for ladies.. |
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| Big sculpture of fingernail inside the garden |
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| Falling in love with the lush greenaries |
💜 Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes
Our next destination to the famous Brighton beach bathing boxes. There are a total of 82 iconic bathing boxes lining side by side uniformly along the shore of Brighton beach. It is popular among tourists and featured on the cover page of magazine before. It is also a popular pre-wedding photoshoot destination. Head here to enjoy the cooling and super windy sea breeze and pick whichever bathing boxes that you like and just snap photos all the way you want!
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| When I say windy, is truly no kidding 😏 |
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| Favourite bathing box among girls |
💜 St Kilda Breakwater Penguin Viewing
Penguin viewing at St Kilda Breakwater. The penguins will swim back from ocean to their home which is the rocks nearby the St Kilda pier. Every day around sunset hours, tourists and locals will head to here to spot the cute penguins that swim back to their natural habitat. Before penguin viewing, you may go to the cafes located nearby the beachside and count down the time to penguin viewing. You have to walk through the coldness of the St Kilda pier first in order to reach the natural habitat. The pier is very windy and remember to keep yourselves warm. There are two shelters available for you to hide inside for a moment before continue the walking journey against the cold windy evening. Be prepared for the coldness.. and at last comes the penguins.. Beware not to take photos at night using flash as this will harm the eyes of penguins. You can take photos using the red light from the torch of guards over there.
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| Famous fish and chips for dinner while waiting for sunset |
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| The super cold and windy St Kilda pier |
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| After a long walk along St Kilda pier, you will reach St Kilda Breakwater |
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| Penguins are coming home! |
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| So near to the penguins! |
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| Many people come here for the penguin viewing |
Day 4:
Started our day tour to the outskirt of Melbourne by renting car and self drive.
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Daily farming activities:
2.30pm sheep shearing
2.45pm whip cracking
3.05pm working dogs
3.20pm sheep shearing
💜 Phillip Island Penguin Parade
💜 Puffing Billy Steam Train
Experience the fun of old traditional steam train right here! The steam train will go through forests and stops at several stations along the 25km tracking from Belgrave to Gembrook. We took the steam train ride from Belgrave to Menzies Creek for about 30 minutes. It is said to be the most scenic track from Belgrave to Menzies Creek and thus most popular. One of the main attractions of Puffing Billy steam train is that we can sit with our legs hanging out from the train. Feel your legs swinging through the forest, hang on tight and enjoy the scenic ride! Choose the right side of train seats to enjoy the prettiest view!
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| Steam train! Poo poooo~~ |
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| Sit with the legs hanging out! Like a kid 😋 |
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| Run through the forests |
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| Beautiful and serene Menzies Creek station |
💜 Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Where nature lovers will deeply fall in love with this place. It houses pretty small cottages, beautiful gardens and flowers for shooting, big fields for you to lie down, and moreover it has a few number of farming activities especially for kids to enjoy such as sheep shearing, working dogs etcetera. For more details of the activities, kindly refer below. We drove to Phillip Island and stopby at Churchill Island Heritage Farm first before proceeding to Penguin Parade at the evening. Churchill Island Heritage Farm is just off the coast of Phillip Island and thus have a great view of coastline of Phillip Island. Come here for a short stroll and indulge in greenaries before heading to penguin parade show!
1.00-1.45pm wagon rides (weekends, school and public holidays only - weather permitting)
2.10pm cow milking2.30pm sheep shearing
2.45pm whip cracking
3.05pm working dogs
3.20pm sheep shearing
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| Beautiful little cottage |
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| Fat and cute sheeps before shearing |
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| Sheep shearing in progress.. |
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| I just want to sit down and relax here for a while 😍 |
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| Beautiful coastline of Phillip Island, where green meets the blue! 😍 |
💜 Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Can't miss this place if you are in Melbourne! You get to see penguins swimming back LIVE in flocks from the vast ocean and waddle back to the rocks. The penguin here is the world's smallest type which makes it so cute and adorable to see them waddling back in a group. There a three platform stages for us to sit overlooking the ocean and wait the penguins to back everyday around sunset. Come earlier to get the best seating view, as this place is popular among locals, tourists, and also travel agency! No photography and video are allowed for the penguin parade show. So come here and experience yourselves, watching sunset, waiting little penguins swimming home, and ends with the starry sky at night.
Day 5:
Started our amazing self driving day tour to the amazing Great Ocean Road.
💜 Great Ocean Road
Beautiful and memorable day trip to the famous Great Ocean Road! Drive along the spectacular coastal road overlooking Southern Ocean, and view changing from ocean to lush farm greenaries with thousands of cows and sheeps. Definitely a must thing to do for nature lovers like me! There are many stops along the way and you may consider to overnight to enjoy the beauty of Great Ocean Road in a slower pace. For us, we visited the place in one day and thus was quite a packed road trip. However, we truly mesmerized by the beauty of Great Ocean Road. We visited Anglesea, 12 Apostles, London Arch, and Loch Ard George in a day.
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| Crystal clear torquoise ocean |
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| Big fat koala outside one of the cafe, too cute not to hold, hug hug 😘 |
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| 12 Apostles |
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| London Arch |
Day 6:
Started our self driving day tour to Ballarat Wildlife Park. Let's find Koala bears and kangaroos in Australia!
💜 Ballarat Wildlife Park
Interactive wildlife conservation park for family. Animal encounters on kangaroos, koala bears, emu, wombat, tasmanian devils etcetera. You can have interaction with the animals in the park here. Although the park is quite small in scale, however, unlike zoo, you get to touch and feed them. There are free roaming areas of kangaroos as well and you can see them hopping in front of you too! Koala, stop being so cute, it kills my phone memory so much...
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| Free roaming zone of kangaroos |
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| Feeding kangaroo! They are so near to me! |
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| Koala also likes to be adored and hugged 😍 |
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| Koala playing with each others |
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| Koala day dreaming? So fluffy and cute 😘 |
Day 7:
Free and easy shopping day, before heading back home tomorrow.
💜 Queen Victoria Market
Just a stone's throw away from our apartment, we get to enjoy the morning market in Australia. Queen Victoria Market houses a great varieties of stalls, selling clothes, accessories, souvenirs, foods and much much more. You get to buy cheaper stuffs over here, double the shopping fun without burning your pocket!
💜 The Royal Arcade Shopping Mall
Window shopping at Melbourne's shopping mall before heading home. Pretty internal decoration of the shopping mall. The Royal Arcade shopping mall is also one of the place where RunningMan korean members visited. They tasted the macarons in one of the stalls there! On the way to the shopping mall, we stopped by Haigh's Chocolate to buy small packets of dark chocolates to have a try too! The dark chocolates are very nice, however a bit pricey thou.
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| Tower of macarons! |
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| Famous Haigh's Chocolate store |
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| Yummy, in love with dark chocolates |
Day 8:
AirAsia flight from Melbourne to Penang, Malaysia. Packed with us very great and amazing memories from Melbourne, Australia! Another bucket list ticked!
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